Delhi: Fine upto Rs. 5,000 for drinking in public places

People consuming alcohol in public places and near liquor shops across the city will be slapped with heavy fines and may even be arrested.

The Delhi government has decided to strictly enforce the Excise Act, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia announced on Wednesday. He informed that post November 7, the Excise Act will be strictly followed under which consuming alcohol at public places attracts a fine of Rs 5,000 and if the offender creates nuisance then the fine will be upto Rs 10,000 with a jail term of three months.

According to the reports, people consuming alcohol in public places and near liquor shops across the city will be slapped with heavy fines and may even be arrested. Sisodia informed that the government will run awareness campaign against public drinking near liquor shops till November 7 in the capital, keeping women safety along with law and order situation as a focus as well.

Accordingly, the government has formulated a three-fold process against public drinking which includes awareness campaign, action against misconducts related to alcohol shops and strict actions against those drinking in public places. “During the campaign, we will encourage and appeal to people not to drink liquor in the open as it is against the rules and also creates nuisance. We will crack down on those indulging in such things.

“If someone is found consuming alcohol in public places and near liquor shops, we will get them arrested under the existing Excise Act from November 7. We will also impose fines of Rs 5,000 and 10,000 on violators,” Sisodia said.

He added that he has also directed the Excise department to inspect every alcohol shop and allied businesses outside these shops during the campaign.

“Excise department officials will inspect liquor shops to find whether they are following laid down rules. Officials will also check whether CCTV cameras have been installed or not by the licence holders. Allied business including general stores which often keep drinking glasses, fruit chaat will be inspected,” Sisodia further said.

Deputy CM had informed that two days back, he along with excise officials raided liquor shops in Mayur Vihar Phase II on complaints of locals and found people drinking liquor in the open.

It is to be noted that in August, the AAP government had announced that no new liquor shops will come up in Delhi this year and mohalla sabhas will be empowered to shut existing neighbourhood vends if there are complaints of “nuisance”. According to the policy, the process to decide on shutting a shop will be initiated once 10 per cent voters of a mohalla sabha submit a written complaint in this regard.